Chicago Fire Ruins
October 8-9, 1871
James Landy
Fourth Street, Corner of Plum
Cincinnati Ohio
Cincinnati Enquirer, October 25, 1871
The Ruins of Chicago Photographed.
We were yesterday shown an excellent photograph of the ruins of Chicago, taken by Landy, the popular Cincinnati photographer, from the top of the Michigan Avenue House. The picture is well executed, and tells the story of the ruined city in language louder than words, and more graphically than the pen of the most accomplished writer could possibly do it. The massive walls of the Post-office Building are easily recognizable. The Tribune Building and the First National Bank raise their grim, ragged walls in the foreground. Farther away the Court-house stands out, a conspicuous and gloomy landmark.
The ruins of many other buildings of massive architecture may be seen, and among them the half-demolished walls of several churches—all of them sad evidences of the terrible effect of the conflagration. While this picture by no means approaches the reality still it gives a better idea of the scene than could be obtained by any means except an actual survey of it.
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